McDonalds. Pizza Hut. Dairy Queen. Wendy’s. Quiznos subs. Tim Hortons.
Is your mouth watering yet?
Fast Food restaurants offer some tasty choices and old time favourites. And we KNOW it’s unhealthy, yet we continue to indulge. Not all fast food is bad, but as with everything, the key is moderation and sensible choices. It doesn’t mean you can only pick from the “light favourites” menu (I for one am against paying $7 for a bowl of lettuce) but rather be aware of what you are eating. Here are some tips on making healthy decisions.
1) Don’t get that Coke!
Sodas are bad news. They rot your teeth, contain no nutrients, and can actually leave you more thirsty! When ordering your drink, opt for juice, the diet soda or even better, water!
2) 39 cents to Supersize is not worth it
Supersizing might seem like a great deal (value for your money) but it packs on more calories. Most regular combo meals are sufficently filling. If you want to supersize, share with a friend!
3) Nutritional Information
Most fast food places offer mini booklets of the nutritional information of their foods. They are often lying around the counter – if you don’t see one, ask for one! Another great resource is the websites for the restaurant. Most, if not all, of the restaurants offer an interactive Nutrition calculator. You choose your customized meal and the website calculates the nutritional information for you! Let’s analyze some classic fast food meals….
McDonald’s: Big Mac, Medium Fries and Coke = 1,100 calories. 46g fat.
Pizza Hut: 6″ Personal Size Pepperoni Pizza = 650 calories. 26g fat.
Subway: 6″ Chicken and Bacon Ranch Sub = 560 calories. 30 g fat.
Dairy Queen: Small Oreo Blizzard = 600 calories. 20 g fat.
4) No I don’t want fries with that.
Some places offer you a choice of sides, not just fries. Baked potatoes, soups, side salads = healthier options!
5) Hold the Sauce
Sauces, especially creamy ones, contain loads of calories! These sauces are used heavily when only a small amount is actually required for the taste (this includes salad dressings!!!). Try to have your sauce on the side and pour it on yourself.
